[grania]

FWIW, I suspect I don't pay much more for my dental needs than those who pay dental insurance plus deductibles. There are two factors: first there's a discount because I pay by check the day of the visit (all I had to do is ask) and second, since I'm paying I'd opt to yank a tooth rather than get root canals or crowns.

The problem I had was finding a good dentist. Mygosh, one wanted me to open a bank line of credit before he'd begin work, even though I was paying. Another refused to pull a tooth rather than do thousands of dollars of repair on it. etc

[miss marmelstein]

I had to have a tooth pulled because I couldn’t afford the crown. The dentist insisted I needed to be “put to sleep” for this little procedure which would cost over $1,000. Luckily, my mother’s doctor intervened and he pulled it in 30 seconds to the tune of $200.